Chinese vessel returns home after Australia drill
China Plus
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Chinese sailors and officers onboard the Chinese frigate Huangshan after completing the KAKADU 2018 exercises off the coast of Darwin, Australia, September 15. [Photo: China Plus/Xu Guang]

Chinese frigate Huangshan set sail to return home Saturday after completing this year's KAKADU exercises along with 26 other countries off the coast of Darwin in Australia.

This is the first time that China was invited to attend the 16-day drill which is Australia's premier multilateral naval war games.

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Chinese sailors and officers onboard the Chinese frigate Huangshan after completing the KAKADU 2018 exercises off the coast of Darwin, Australia, September 15. [Photo: China Plus/Xu Guang]

Departing from China's eastern coastal city of Zhanjiang on August 21, Huangshan arrived at the Darwin harbor in Australia on August 30.

During the drills, the Chinese vessel participated in multiple of exercises including live fire and aerial defense with Chinese sailors being lauded for their professionalism by others involved in the joint naval exercise.

Huangshan also attended a closing ceremony with other participants. 

Exercise Kakadu 2018 is the 14th iteration of the biennial exercises hosted by Australia.

China's domestically-developed 4,000 ton frigate Huangshan was commissioned in 2008.